According to the city of Neosho, Neosho Public Works crews used 61 tons of salt/gravel mix to do the roads as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday. There is 550 tons of salt/gravel still on hand.

Southwestern Missourians braved a wintry mix of sleet, rain and ice on their way to work Thursday morning.

“Neosho Public Works crews were salting and plowing the emergency routes as of the early morning hours of Thursday, utilizing an overnight crew,” according to a press release by the city of Neosho. “By 8:30 a.m., driving conditions on those streets were rated as ‘good.’ However, more winter precipitation at 9 a.m. in the form of freezing rain, sleet and ice downgraded driving conditions in Neosho to ‘poor’ and residents were urged to drive with extreme caution.”

At 10:30 a.m., the city crews continued to salt and plow the emergency routes, which include main thoroughfares that lead to and from emergency services, such as hospital, police, and fire, as well as provide general access to the side streets leading into the neighborhoods.

During the winter weather, some of the city’s streets were closed including but not limited to Spring Street at Big Spring Hill and Hill Street at Senior Hill.

Newton County Emergency Manager Gary Roark gave some advice to area residents.

“I think that people have learned that if they don’t have to get out, they don’t,” he said. “All of the schools closed, and a lot of the businesses closed, it just better to stay home. Stay in if you don’t have to get out, but if you do, just drive carefully, don’t try to make any sudden moves, that is what will get you in trouble faster than anything. If you have to hit the brakes, slow down, tap your breaks, do it gently, you will be better off. But once you apply a lot of pressure on the brakes, that weight is going to carry it and it is going to slide on you.”

Area schools and some businesses were also closed Thursday due to the weather.

Waste Corporation of America, who contracts with Neosho for trash service, notified the city at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday that garbage would not be picked up on Thursday and that today was questionable, but that trash service would resume on Saturday.

An overnight crew worked through Thursday evening and early today, salting and plowing, as more winter precipitation is expected.